INDIAN FOOTBALL NEWS 2018 (APRIL-2018)

Mohun Bagan Press Release - 30.04.2018 : The below Members of Mohun Bagan tendered their resignation from thier respective post in the Executive Committee of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club with immediate effect. They are deeply shocked and distressed that the way the club is running at present.

27.04.2018: Press Release MFA : MFA Futsal Cup - an open knock out competition for all the registered clubs will kick off in May along with All Mizoram Open Junior Futsal Tournament.

Paul FC emerged victorious in the final of the Mizoram Football Association (MFA) organised Futsal Division One Season Ending Tournament played today at AR Lammual, Aizawl. Braces from F. Lalrinpuia and Lalfakzuala and a solitary goal from Lalramtharmawia were enough to seal the trophy against Cici Store, Dinthar.

Champions Paul FC bagged the Rs. 10,000/- prize money and trophy while Cici Store, Dinthar took home Rs. 5,000/- and the runner up trophy. Semifinalists Rangvamual FC and IDBI Capital both took home Rs. 2000/-

Staying true to their commitment of improving the game at the grassroots level, Bengaluru FC and Boost organized the course at a subsidized rate for 20 coaches from the city. With an aim of educating coaches who work regularly with kids, the course was tailor-made for school coaches who participated in the BOOST-BFC Inter School Soccer Shield held during January this year. Joining them were coaches who run programmes in the community as well as those from a few local academies.

The two-week course held at the FSV Arena included both practical and theory sessions, conducted by AIFF Instructors Savio Madeira, John Kenneth Raj and Caetano Pinto.

Savio Madeira, Technical Director of the All India Football Federation, said, “It’s a very good initiative by Bengaluru FC to bring this course to coaches who are working in schools. It’s in schools where the kids start playing football and it’s important to have quality coaching at this level. The Asian Football Confederation has always stressed on this and it’s an important step in developing Indian Football. In the AFC ‘C’ License course, we try to assess the coaching skills and ability to man-managing a 25-member squad. This forms the base of the second step in coaching, after the AIFF ‘D’ License.”

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Four-nation Hero Intercontinental Cup from June 1-10, 2018.

20.04.2018: Press Release AIFF : The Mumbai Football Arena, the new hub of Indian Football will play host to the inaugural edition of the four-nation Hero Intercontinental Cup from June 1-10, 2018 which will see the Indian National Team competing with the likes of South Africa, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei.

The Hero Intercontinental Cup which will be telecast live on Star Sports has been planned to be an annual event and will thus have representation from the CAF region in the form of South Africa, New Zealand from the Oceania, and Chinese Taipei from the AFC.

While South Africa has participated in previous three editions of FIFA World Cups, New Zealand have competed in the World Cup twice -- both teams last playing in a World Cup in South Africa in 2010. The respective FAs of all the participating teams will be sending their first Teams for the competition as per the agreements signed with All India Football Federation. Every team will be playing each other once with the top two advancing to a Grand finale.

The tournament is being organised to strengthen India’s preparation for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, their second qualification to the Continental Championship in 8 years and fourth overall, the last being in Doha 2011. Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation mentioned the tourney will help the Blue Tigers prepare better for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

“The concept of the Hero Intercontinental Cup is to test our team against strong oppositions from other Continents. As we approach the Asian Cup it’s pertinent that we play against tougher teams. I need to thank our marketing partners FSDL for playing an active part in planning this out,” he said.

“As all the first teams would be competing it will be a Football fest for the fans in Mumbai. The commercial Capital is a sporting city and the support from the Indian Football fans has been outstanding in recent times. I look forward to a successful organisation of the tournament,” he added.

The Indian National Team which has been on upsurge over the last couple of years are currently ranked 97 (as per April 2018 FIFA Rankings) and were on an unbeaten run for 12 official matches for a span which extended from June 2016 to November 2017.
The Hero Intercontinental Cup comes on back of the Hero Tri-nation series in September 2017 which was also held at the same venue with India eventually emerging champions.

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NAGALAND FOOTBALL - Launching program of KFL 2018 on 21st April.

20.04.2018: Press Release Head of Media and PR, KTC : The launching program and unveiling of the KFL cup for the 2nd edition of Kohima Football League (KFL),2018 will take place on 21st April at 2.00pm at WTF, near Cathedral Church.
The launching patron shall be Mr.Kovi Meyase, Joint Secretary, Land Resources Department, Government of Nagaland.
Eight teams –Ziekezou Sporting Club, New Market FC, United 16 FC , Khriekesa FC, Nagabazar FC, Vanguard FC, Sechii Zubza FC and Twenty XI FC will vying for the 2nd edition of KFL,2018, organized by Kohima Town Club (KTC). All the eight teams and well wishers are invited to the program.
The league is expected to start by 3rd week of May and continue till June.

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Tata Trusts launches Centre of Excellence for Football in Aizawl. 13.04.2018 - Tata Trusts Press Release : Tata Trusts today announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Football in Aizawl, Mizoram, to provide world class training and development opportunities for young footballers from the North East. Tata Trusts has handpicked the first batch of 25 student athletes, aged 12-14 years through meticulous scouting across Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam

Recognizing the interest in the youth for Football in the region, the CoE aims to develop and nurture sporting talent by providing them with world-class coaching, infrastructure, education, residential facilities and a sustainable progression structure through disciplined training and competitive participation. In addition, the Centre will give equal importance to personality development, communication and IT skills.

The CoE is equipped with a modern training pitch for on-ground practice, and also houses top notch recovery equipment and a fully equipped physiotherapy room for the student athletes.

Tata Trusts has collaborated with the Government of Mizoram, the Mizoram Football Association, the Aizawl Diocesan Education Society, the Northeast Initiative Development Agency, and Mizoram Police for the on-ground implementation of the CoE.

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DEMPO SC ORGANISE FESTIVAL FOR ASRO. 12.04.2018 - DEMPO SC Press Release : Dempo SC, organised their second Grassroots community program for the children of ASRO (children effected with HIV) community care centre, Cavelossim South – Goa, last week. 15 boys and girls in total aged between 6 and 16 participated in the program.

The programme was well coordinated by Dempo SC Grassroots Coordinator’s Antonio Pereira and Alexander Fernandes. “The key concept of the programme was to bring together as many people as possible through football”, said Antonio Pereira after the programme. He further added that they intend to hold such festivals more frequently.

This was the sixth Dempo SC Community programme held this year under the leadership of Technical Director Katz Naidoo who believes that football is for all irrespective of gender, age, disability or health status.

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The Kohima Town Club (KTC) is currently organizing a Football Referee Clinic at Local Ground, Kohima.

08.04.2018: Head of Media and PR, KTC: Altogether 23 referees (18 males and 5 females) are taking part in the clinic. All India Football Federation Referee instructor, Joy Chandra and All Manipur Football Association referee instructor, Tarun Kumar are the instructor of the clinic. In his address, Sekhose hoped that the referee clinic will improve the standard of football referee in the state.

Reminding the referees on the need of physical and mental fitness, Sekhose said that referees also need to possess wit, courage, common sense, punctuality, presence of mind to impose any disciplinary action or sports law. Encouraging the referee profession, Sekhose said football as an international game has lots of scope both at national and international levels.

Dr. Viketuolie Pienyu, President KTC, in his welcome address, said the clinic was aimed to improve the standard of the state referees. While pointed out that KTC aimed to developed football at the grassroots level as Nagaland is left far behind in football standard when compared to the neighbouring states.

The launching programme was chaired by Vikholie Yiese and God’s blessing was invoked by Pelebeinuo Khezhie. During the clinic, various classes including practical training and fitness test preparation, positioning and movement, qualities of a referee discussion, laws, pre-game assessment, recovery, video test, AFC match incident, analysis of video and others will be imparted to the participants.

The football referees clinic will conclude on April 12.

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Goa’s greats come together to honour Monte Cruz.

08.04.2018: MEDIA RELEASE AWES-GOA : Close to 30 years after he helped build the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda in a record time of just six months, former sports minister Francisco Monte Cruz was left weeping tears of joy as former sportspersons, officials and administrators walked up to him and acknowledged his remarkable contribution that gave Goa its first multipurpose stadium.

Monte Cruz was the centre of attraction during the second get-together of players, officials and administrators – all above the age of 60 – organised by the Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) the Coco Loco in Agassaim. His felicitation brought into focus the efforts that the former sports minister put in to make Goa’s dream of an international stadium come true.

Monte Cruz, who was wheeled in, has been unwell for quite some time and cannot speak. But his mere presence was enough to light up the afternoon where the gathering recollected their good old days.

Monte Cruz was presented with a replica of the stadium and a collage of his own pictures by AWES president Avertano Furtado.

Unlike last year’s event where only footballers were present, this time around AWES got together champions in most sports. Besides football, there were champions from the sports of volleyball, badminton, table tennis, athletics and basketball.

“As a sporting fraternity we should be grateful to Francisco Monte Cruz. It was because of him that the stadium could come up at Fatorda in a record time. Can you imagine the kind of sacrifices that he would have made to ensure that everything was working according to schedule? Can you imagine the kind of pressure he must have had to deliver on time,” asked AWES president Avertano Furtado during his welcome address.

Besides a galaxy of former players, the event was graced by high-profile administrators like Shivanand Salgaocar, Vijai Chowgule, R.B Jirage and Digambar Kamat.

The day was also special for Minguel Rebello, who coincidentally celebrated his 90th birthday on Sunday. The former player from Curtorim was given the honour of cutting the celebratory cake.

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FIFA AND AFC WANTS ONE LEAGUE IN INDIA FROM 2019-20

05.04.2018:KFC NEWS DESK : India will have a single football league in the top tier from 2019-20. This was recommended by a two member committee appointed by FIFA and AFC. So, the prime task of AIFF is now to merge I League and Indian Super League according to the reports of AIFF and AFC.

A two member committee comprises of Alex Philips of AFC and Nic Coward, a FiIFA consultant further stated that if the order are not implemented with the stipulated time than the Indian clubs will face a ban while participating in the Asian tournaments. The committee also recommends that the top tier league will have 12 teams which will be increased to 16 teams
within 2022-23.

ONE LEAGUE FROM 20-19-20 12 TEAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEAGUE INITIALLY NO FRANCHISE FEE TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUE TEAMS WILL BE RELEGATED FROM THE LEAGUE ONE CITY MULTIPLE TEAMS CONCEPT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED

The committee stated that out of the 12 teams, 10 teams will be from ISL and the remaining two teams will be the I League champions of 2018-19 and the second team will finalised either from I League runners up or through open tender.

There will be relegation in the top tier league. It means that one team will be relegated initially. But once the number of teams increased upto 16 from 2022-23 on wards the number of relegated teams will be two. The most important aspect in the new league that there will be no franchise fees which the ISL teams have to pay to play in the league .
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